Structural member



Oct. 9, 1945.

E. SPAULDING 2,386,724

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed may 4, 1944 5 I la 25 3 17, 1/ 2 17 fi f ijalph ksp tzdez Patented Oct. 9, 1945 STRUCTURAL MEMBER Ralph E. Spaulding, Jacksonville, Fla., assignor to The Aetna Iron & Steel Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Application May 4, 1944, Serial No. 534,135

20 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to structural members,

commonly known as knees, of web and flange construction, and has as its object to provide a knee reinforced to provide superior strength and to afford stiffness at the bend equivalent to that of a straight beam of similar web and flange design.

In accordance with the invention, the bend of the knee may be at any angle and may be defined by inner and outer curves, or angles, or combinations of the two. The knees may be of any material, for example, metal, wood or plastic. In all cases a reinforcing piece is applied to the web and a flange at the bend in inclined relation to the web and suitably secured to both the web and flange. In the case of a steel member, rolled or built up, the reinforcing piece will be of plate metal preferably welded in position. In the case of wood, the reinforcing piece may be glued in place, and in the case of plastic, it may be fused to the web and flange. All edges of the reinforcing piece should be continuously joined throughout to the web and flange, and, in preferred practice, the pieces are shaped to form closed pockets in conjunction with the web and flange.

Specific embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing to which reference will now be made.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation of a knee in accordance with the invention, the knee in this case having an inside curve and an outside angle at the bend.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlargement of a detail appearing in Figure 3 showing a reinforcing piece with a square cut edge.

Figures 4a and 4b are views similar to Figure 4 but showing reinforcing pieces having edges level out and reverse-level cut, respectively.

Figure 5 is a section similar to that of the lower portion of Figure 3 but showing multiple application of reinforcing means.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a multiple knee in the form of a cross reinforced in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation of .a multiple knee in the form of a T with new reinforcement.

Figure 8 is an elevation of a knee having inside and outside curves at the bend reinforced in accordance with the invention.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an elevation of a knee having inside and outside angles at the bend provided with the new reinforcement, and

Figure 11 is a section on line IIII of Figure Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, the knee comprises a web I5, an inside flange I6, and an outside flange II. The inside flange forms a 90 are about the center C, Figure 1, while the outside flange forms a 90 angle symmetrical with respect to the arc of the inner flange. The web I5 is continuously joined to the flanges throughout.

Reference numeral I8 designates a curved rein- 1 forcing piece in the form of a strip having an inner arcuate edge which follows the curve of the flange l5 and is secured to the latter as by Welding, in the case of steel, on a line outwardly of the web I5, the strip being inclined so that its outer circular edge contacts web I5 and is secured thereto, As shown in Figure 3, the strip I8 is inclined to both web and the flange at an angle D which is 45. The inner curved edge of the strip I8, this edge being 90 inthe' present instance, is continued in straight edge portions I9 and 20 which intersect the curved outer edge of the strip so that the ends of the latter taper to points. The straight edges lie against straight portions of flange I6 and the terminal points are disposed at the juncture at the web and flange so that the ends of the space between the strip and the weband flange are closed. Such pockets may be filled with a plastic or semi-fluid, non-corrosive material, if desired.

The inner edge contour of strip I8 i readily designed on the basis of the radius of curvature of the flange, the length of the curve, and the angle at which the strip is to beapplied to the flange. This angle can, of course, be varied although a 45 angle may be taken as a convenient standard. However, in the case of a narrow web and relatively wide flange, the angle might be more acute, while in the case of a narrow flange, and relatively wide web, it could be more obtuse. The outside curve of the strip is struck from the same center as the inside curve and the width of the strip will, of course, depend on the length of the radius chosen.

In Figure 4, the strip I8 is shown as having a square cut edge in contact with the flange I8 whereas in Figure 40., the edge is level out and in Figure 4?) it is reversed-level cut. The particular edge design may be selected in accordance with the strip material and the method of fastening or welding which is to be used.

In Figure 3, the half width of the flange I1,

i. e., its width out from the center plane of the web I5, is denoted at b and the outward spacing of the strip edge from the web is designated a.

The dimension a is preferably substantially three-fourths of b for best results, but the dimension may be varied. It will be seen that a piece [8a, identical with piece I8, is identically disposed on the other side of the web l5.

Set in the outside angle of the knee is a triangular plate member 2|, here shown as an isosceles triangle inclined to the web and having its base secured to the latter, the sides of the triangle being secured against the flange l1 throughout the knee angle. The indicated dimension b is the same as b, and a is the same as a, a being the preferred outward spacing of the apex of the triangle. For most effective transfer of stresses across the corner, the triangle is of such altitude that its base, symmetrically disposed relative to the bisector of the outer angle and inner arc, will span the angle A which is half of the angle B. In other words, the base of the isosceles triangle is of such length to extend between points on the flange which lie on the radii of the inner are which subtend an angle substantially half that of the inner arc. The points atthe base are at the juncture of the web and flange and a closed pocket is provided. In Figure 3, it will be noted that a second triangular piece Zia, identical with 2|, is identically disposed on the other side of the web.

- In a knee like that shown in Figure 1, the radius of the inside curve and the length of the curve can be varied. The length of the curve will, of course, vary if the knee bend is other than rectangular. The outside angle can be similarly varied and need not correspond to the degrees included in the inside are. For example, with an inside are of 90, the outside angle could be less than 90 thus enabling flange I! to converge outwardly with respect to the flange Hi.

In Figure 5, in addition to the inner reinforcing strips l8 and [8a, outer reinforcing strips 22 and 22a are provided. The outside strips have the same form as the inner strips and are merely made wider by increasing the radius on which the outside curve is struck.

In Figures 8 and 9, the knee has both inside and outside curves, each being 90, as here shown. The inside curve is reinforced by strips 23 and 23a formed and applied in the same manner as the strips I8 and l8a hereinbefore described. Arcuate strips 24 and 24a, having concentric inner and outer edges, bridge the angles between the outside flange and the web and, as here shown, are inclined at 45 to each. The strips 24 and 24a extend throughout the curve and terminate in radial edges against which are abutted and welded triangular end pieces 25 and 250. whose points are disposed at the juncture between the outer flange and the web so that a closed pocket is provided. To all intents and purposes, the reinforcing pieces, thus built up, are single strips.

In Figure 6, four knees may be considered to be present and each bend is reinforced with strips, the same as strips l8 and Illa of Figure 3. The double knee of Figure '7 has bends reinforced in the same manner. I

In Figures and 11, the knee has 90 angles both inside and outside and reinforcing pieces 26 and 28a are provided in the outside angle in the same manner as pieces 2! and 2la in Figures 1 and 3. In Figure 10, the sides of the triangular member 26 are shown as being substantially equal in length to the distance between the inside and outside flanges.

Reference number 21 designates a reinforcing piece or strip for the inside angle, this strip.comprising flat wings 28 and 28, each having edges which converge to a point and the two wings are angled on a line which is in the plane of section Il-l|, Figure 10. When the strip is applied, the outside convergent edges of the wings are secured to the web and the inside convergent edges to the inner flange. The points of the wings are at the juncture of the web and flange so that a closed structure is provided. An identical member 28a is applied at the other side of the web.

In the various figures, the reinforcing elements have been shown as applied to knee members of I or H section. The reinforcements are also applicable to structures of U section or T section. While naturally the best results are secured when the bend is reinforced both inside and outside, the benefits of the invention are, in part, realizedwhen reinforcement is provided at either point.

It will be evident that the invention is susceptible of larger variation in the form and arrangement of parts and, accordingly, I do not limit myself to the specific disclosure herein except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A structural member in the form of a knee, said member comprising a web and a flange defining the bend of the knee, and a reinforcing piece following the bend and inclined relative to the web and having edges secured to the web and to the flange, around and at the bend.

2. A structural member in the form of a knee, said member comprising a web and a flange defining the bend of the knee, and a reinforcing piece following the bend and inclined relative to the web and having edges secured to the web and to the flange around and at the bend, said piece having ends each tapered to a point which is disposed at the juncture of the web and flange.

3. A structural member in the form of a knee having a curve, said member comprising a web and a flange defining the curve, and a reinforcing strip following said curve and inclined with respect to said web and to sa d flan a d ing longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto, said edges engaging said web and flange throughout the curve.

4. .A'structural member according to claim 3 wherein the strip is inclined to the web and flange at substantially equa1 angles,

5. A structural member according to claim 3 wherein the strip is secured to the flange on a line substantially three-fourths of the distance out from the central plane of the web.

6. A structural member according to claim 3 wherein the strip is inclined to the web and flange at substantially equal angles, and wherein the strip is secured to the flange substantially three-fourths of the distance out from the central plane of the web. 7

7. A structural member in the form of a knee having a curved portion and rectilinear portions extending from the ends of said curved portion respectively,'said member comprising a web and a flangerimming said curved and rectilinear portions, and a reinforcing strip following said curved portionand extending along said rectilinear portions, said strip being .inclined with respect to said Web and to said, flange and h'avinglongitudinal edges respectively secured .thereflange 8. A structural member in the form of a knee having a curved portion and rectilinear portions extending from the ends of said curved portion respectively, said member comprising a web and a flange rimming said curved and rectilinear portions, and a reinforcing strip following said curved portion and extending along said rectilinear portions, said strip being inclined with respect to said web and to said flange and having longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto, the longitudinal edges of said strip which follow said curved portion being substantially concentrically curved, and the portions of said strip which extend along said rectilinear portions being each tapered to a point which is disposed at the juncture of the web and flange so that the space between said strip and the web and flange is closed at its ends.

9. A structural member according to claim 8 wherein the flange is on the inside of the curved portion and the strip is a single piece.

10. A structural member according to claim 8 wherein the flange is on the outside of the curved portion and wherein the tapered portions of the strip are made as separate pieces.

11. A structural member according to claim 3 wherein the flange defines an insid .curve.

12. A structural member according to claim 3 wherein the flange defines an outside curve.

13. A structural member in the form of a knee having inside and outside curves, said member comprising a web and flanges defining said curves respectively, a reinforcing strip following the inside curve and inclined with respect to said web and to the inside flange and having longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto, said edges engaging said web and flange through-out the curve, and a strip following the outside curve and inclined with respect to said web and to the outside flange and having longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto, the edges of the last named strip engaging said web and flange through-out the curve.

14. A structural member in the form of a knee having an outside angle, said member comprising a web and a flange defining said angle, and a reinforcing piece in the form of a triangle having its base secured to said web and its sides secured to said flange within the knee angle on lines inclined to said web.

15. A structural member in the form of a knee having an outside angle, said member comprising a web and a flange defining said angle, and a reinforcing piece in the form of a triangle having its base secured to said web and its sides secured to said flange within the knee angle on lines inclined to said Web, the apex of said triangle being disposed at a point on said flange substantially three-fourths of the distance out from the central plane of the web.

16. A structural member in the form of a knee having an outside angle and an inside arc, said member comprising a web and a flange defining said angle, and a reinforcing piece in the form of a triangle having its base secured to said web and its sides secured to said flange within the knee angle on lines inclined to said web, said piece being symmetrically disposed with respect to the bisector of said are and the base of said piece being of such length as to extend between points on said flange which lie on radii of said are which subtend an angle substantially half that of the arc.

1'7. A structural member in the form of a knee having an outside angle and an inside curve, said member comprising a web, a flange defining the angle and a flange defining the curve, a reinforcing piece in the form of a triangle having its base secured to said web and its sides secured to the angle-defining flange on lines inclined to said web, and a reinforcing piece following said curve and inclined with respect to said web and to said curve-defining flange and having its longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto.

18. A structural member in the form of a knee having an inside angle, said member comprising a web and a flange defining said angle, and a reinforcing piece comprising angularly related wings following said angle and inclined with respect to said web, said wings having convergent edges secured to said web and convergent edges secured to said flange around and at the angle.

19. A structural member in the form of a knee having outside and inside angles, said member comprising a web and flanges defining aid angles respectively, a reinforcing piece in the form of a triangle having its base secured to said web and its sides secured to the outside flange within the angle on lines inclined to said Web, and a reinforcing piece following said inside angle and inclined with respect to said web and to the inside flange and having longitudinal edges respectively secured thereto.

20. A structural member in the form of a knee having an inside angle, said member comprising a web and a flange defining said angle, and a reinforcing piece comprising angularly related wings following said angle and inclined with respect to said web, said wings having convergent edges secured to said web and convergent edges secured to said flange around and at the angle, and each of said wings being tapered to a point which is disposed at the juncture of the web and the flange.

RALPH E. SPAULDING. 

